I recently checked out a new dojo that hand lineage through Frank Hargrove (NASKA). The instructor claims he is no longer associated with that organization due to how they structure their fees, but they way he mentioned it seemed there was more to the story than that.

So after ALOT of research I came across a review for a book by Frank Hargrove that mentioned he was kicked out of the International Shorin Ryu organization even though he claims on his website hes still apart of. I checked the international site and his dojo and name are not even listed or mentioned anywhere. Now this is assuming that I'm even looking in the right place/website.

So I was hoping that from the vast knowledge of this community I could dig up and learn the truth.

And the explicit claim that it is the most powerful martial art contradicts the bit about humility, plus it'd need to get proven, which it hasn't. In fact, it's an outright lie on the part of the style, grand master or whoever wrote it and/or demonstrates the level of dellusion in this brand of karate.

A quick browse of the official site (the anti-Hargrove bunch) provides a load of links to the 'official' Shorin Ryu Shorinkan brand schools in US. I clicked a random link to one of them called amusingly "Happy Dragons Martial Arts" and clicked on the photos section to get a general feel for what they are about in this org. This was what greated me, labelled "Instructor training":

Looks rather silly to me. Camo??? RBSD sucks month should be followed by Quasi-RBSD sucks even more month.

And from another site, here's a photo of the "official" head guy in US, Perry, twisting wrists in what appears to be a "self-defense" situation. No wonder Karate is so unique and powerful!

In the early 1990s it was discovered that Frank Hargrove had been using his dojos to make money for himself, even embezzling and stealing (which he later spent time in jail for, more than once). Hargrove was basically excommunicated from the organization and has no affiliation whatsoever with us. He should not even be wearing our patch.

I heard a similar story from my old Shorin-Ryu instructor, probably six years or so ago. However, I was told that Hargrove was in charge of collecting money for Hansi Nakazato and then kept it for himself. I did not hear about any jail time but that does not mean it didn't happen.

By the way, ihatemcdojos is incorrect about the Renshi thing. I know this because I have attended seminars led by Kyoshi Haley and Perry with several Renshi's in attendance - my instructor being one of them.

Oh, and not to mention the ridiculous "Renshi Belts" that his instructors wear. There is no such thing as a "Renshi Belt" in our system. You hold a black belt until you reach 7th degree, then you are awarded a red and white Kyoshi belt. If anyone in our system ever asks you to call them "Renshi" head for the nearest door!

Originally Posted by Kobayashi

By the way, ihatemcdojos is incorrect about the Renshi thing. I know this because I have attended seminars led by Kyoshi Haley and Perry with several Renshi's in attendance - my instructor being one of them.

Holy rank inflation batman. You guys are telling us that there are a whole lot of guys with fancy titles and fancy belts and they all argue over who has teh real. Sounds like a fun group.